Cartier Tank Française Small Pink MOP Steel Quartz W51028Q3

Pink mother of pearl moves through the day differently than silver. In late afternoon light, the dial shifts from blush to almost ivory; under candlelight at a private dining room in Heliopolis, it warms toward rose. The watch holds against ivory linen at lunch, and then against a black silk dress at a Mena House dinner without changing register. The Tank Française silhouette is small enough to disappear under a French cuff and present enough to read across a table.

The Tank Française was launched by Alain Dominique Perrin in 1996, the first Tank in Cartier's catalogue to be designed around a fully integrated steel bracelet rather than a leather strap. The model carried Cartier through 27 years of production until the reference series was retired in 2023 and replaced by the redesigned WSTA0105 line. The Pink Mother of Pearl variant arrived in the mid-2000s, ran for less than a decade, and was discontinued before the broader Tank Française reissue. The watch reaches Cairo through Sold Attire's Japan sourcing channel, where it was acquired through Star Buyers Auction with the Excellent condition rating that corresponds to our SA Score 9.

What is the difference between the Tank Française Small and Medium models?

The Small Model measures 25 mm by 20 mm, the Medium 30 mm by 25 mm. The Small was conceived as the dress proportion for a wrist under 16 cm circumference, and it sits flat against a French cuff or under a long sleeve without rolling. The dial is identical between the two sizes, so the difference is only presence on the wrist.

Is the W51028Q3 reference still in production?

No. The W51028Q3 was discontinued before the 2023 Tank Française reissue. Cartier replaced the Tank Française catalogue with the WSTA0105 and W4TA0031 references, which use a redesigned bracelet and a different dial colour palette. Pink Mother of Pearl is no longer offered in steel at any size, which is why pre-owned Tank Française W51028Q3 prices have held steady on the secondary market.

What is the Pink MOP Tank Française worth on the secondary market?

Pre-owned Tank Française W51028Q3 in pink mother of pearl currently trades between USD 2,700 and USD 4,500 on Chrono24, depending on box, papers, and bracelet completeness. Examples with full set and original dealer paperwork can clear USD 5,000. Watches from authenticated Japanese auction sources, like this one, sit at the upper end of the no-papers band.

Quartz movements like the Calibre 057 require a battery service approximately every two to three years. Cartier authorised service centres replace the battery and reseal the case for water resistance in a single visit. The pink mother of pearl dial is sensitive to direct sunlight over time, so store the watch out of UV exposure when not worn. The stainless steel bracelet polishes back to its factory finish with periodic professional cleaning. Avoid contact with perfume and skincare on the bracelet to preserve the brushed and polished finish, and dry the watch after exposure to humidity.

Every watch passes through Sold Attire's 10-step authentication: reference number cross-check, serial verification, case stamp inspection, dial print and Roman numeral application review, hand alignment and material check, crown cabochon verification, bracelet link and clasp stamp examination, movement caliber confirmation, weight and dimension measurement, and crystal scratch test. We back every authenticated piece with our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee. If any item is ever proven inauthentic, we issue a full refund without time limit and cover return shipping.